[Hotel Review blog] Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel: A Hot Spring Resort with Spectacular Airport Views for Aviation Enthusiasts (Okinawa Travel)

During my trip to Okinawa, I had the chance to stay at the Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel, so I’d like to share my experience with you.

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel is a hot spring hotel located on Senagajima Island near Naha Airport. It’s famous for its airport views, allowing guests to watch planes take off and land up close.

I had stayed at this hotel before, back when the second runway at Naha Airport hadn’t been built yet. Its convenient location near the airport and relaxing hot spring facilities made it a comfortable resort, so I decided to stay again.

After staying at Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel, I was particularly impressed by these three aspects:

1. The hotel has a natural hot spring.
2. The airport view lets you enjoy watching planes take off and land up close.
3. You can truly experience the Okinawan resort atmosphere.

In this blog post, I’ll focus on sharing photos to convey the ambiance of the hotel.

A Relaxing Stay Near Naha Airport

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel is located on Senagajima Island, near Naha Airport.

The image below, taken from Google Maps, shows how close Senagajima is to Naha Airport’s runways. It’s situated between the new second runway over the sea and the original first runway, allowing constant views of planes taking off and landing from the guest rooms.

(Image courtesy of Google Maps)

Compact Double Room Review: A Cozy Choice

This time, I chose the “Compact Double Room,” the smallest room type at Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel.

As the name suggests, the Compact Double Room is efficiently designed. A desk is set against the wall with all the necessary amenities.

The bed is 140 cm wide. It’s a double bed but felt slightly narrow.

Here’s the view of the room from the window side.

The desk is located opposite the bed, equipped with a wall-mounted TV, storage shelves, and a refrigerator.

Amenities, including a hair dryer, were also placed on the desk.

The upper shelf holds an electric kettle and an ice bucket.

The lower shelf contains complimentary mineral water, coffee, tea, teacups, and glasses.

The tea labeled “SUNSET” turned out to be an original Ryukyu tea and was very delicious.

Okinawan specialties like chinsuko and brown sugar were provided as complimentary snacks.

The refrigerator was empty, with no minibar. (There’s a vending machine room next to the elevator.)

There’s a closet with doors located next to the entrance.

It contained a hanger rack, deodorizing spray, two types of pajamas, a safe, and slippers.

Here is the floor plan of the guest floor. There are only three Compact Double Rooms per floor, making them about two-thirds the size of a standard room.

Stunning Airport Views from the Terrace

One of the main highlights of Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel is its airport view, where you can see the runway from the terrace.

The first runway of Naha Airport is visible right in front of you.

You can see planes landing up close.

You can also watch planes taking off.

Since the runways at Naha Airport are also used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, you can see rare aircraft such as fighter jets and helicopters taking off and landing.

Using the app “FlightRadar24,” you can conveniently track which planes are taking off or landing on which runway in real-time.

Unfortunately, from the terrace of the Compact Double Room, a wall on the left blocks the view of the second runway. (It’s unclear if other room types offer a view of the second runway.)

When I stayed at Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel, the second runway hadn’t been built yet, so I could constantly watch planes taking off and landing on the first runway.

This time, since the second runway wasn’t visible, I could only see planes taking off and landing on the first runway, reducing the number of visible flights to about half.

The airport at night was beautiful.

The windows are double-glazed with two glass doors, providing excellent soundproofing against airplane noise. (However, the roar of fighter jets during takeoff could still be heard even with the double glazing closed.)

Bathroom Features and Amenities

The bathroom was a standard unit bath.

Amenities such as a body towel, razor, brush, toothbrush, cotton swabs, and hair ties were placed on the desk.

The shampoo and body soap were single-use products from the brand “THALASSO.”

The hair dryer was by SOLONIA and had decent airflow.

Room Details: Functionality and Comfort

The headboard was wooden with a single power outlet. The limited number of outlets in the room was inconvenient, so bringing a power strip is essential.

Here is the magnetic sign.

This is the chair stored under the desk.

The floor was wooden and had a polished finish.

The TV was a smart TV, which made it convenient for watching YouTube or Netflix.

Room delivery from the restaurant was also available.

My plan included breakfast, so I received a breakfast coupon. (However, since I don’t usually eat breakfast, I didn’t use it.)

Standard Twin Room: A More Spacious Option

For reference, here are photos of the Standard Twin Room from my previous stay.

The Compact Double Room I stayed in this time had a compact layout and felt like a business hotel. In contrast, the Standard Twin Room had a spacious layout, a bath with a view, and a separate washbasin, offering a more resort-like experience.

Since I was traveling alone and wanted to stay near the airport on the last day of my Okinawa trip, I chose the affordable Compact Double Room.

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel offers many other types of rooms.Selecting a room based on the number of guests, budget, and purpose is recommended.

(Image above: Courtesy of the official website)

Exploring the Hotel Lobby and Lounge

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel is located on a hill. You’ll find the entrance as you climb up the slope.

The entrance featured Shisa statues, typical of Okinawa.

Entering the hotel.

Opposite the check-in counter was the guest elevator.

Unusually, the elevator didn’t require a card key for security.

The lounge located at the back of the hotel lobby.

Further inside, there’s a restaurant that also serves as the breakfast venue.

The restaurant had terrace seating, and there was also a pool outside.

From the lounge terrace, you can enjoy views of the sea.

Planes landing on the second runway were clearly visible.

The second runway could be seen beyond the pool.

Fighter jets parked on the runway were also clearly visible.

The hotel lobby connects to Ryukyu Onsen “Ryujin no Yu.”

The hotel’s signature natural hot spring was spacious and comfortable.

I couldn’t take photos inside, but it was an impressive hot spring like the one shown below.

(Image courtesy of the hotel’s official website)

Heading to the Guest Room: What to Expect

I took the guest elevator to the fourth floor, which is one of the guest room floors (3rd to 5th floors).

The elevator hall on the guest floor offered an ocean view through large windows.

The hallway had dim lighting, creating a calm atmosphere.

Next to the elevator hall, there was a vending machine corner.

Next Door to Senagajima Umikaji Terrace

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel is adjacent to the commercial facility, Senagajima Umikaji Terrace.

The hotel is located on a hill, with Senagajima Umikaji Terrace stretching along its slope.

Senagajima Umikaji Terrace consists of rows of white standalone shops reminiscent of Mediterranean towns. It features cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops, making it a place you could enjoy all day.

You can also watch planes taking off and landing from Senagajima Umikaji Terrace. The constant activity makes it endlessly watchable.

Room Rates and Booking Tips

・The room rates fluctuate significantly depending on the season or day of the week. It’s common for prices to vary by several thousand yen depending on the date.

・ I stayed at Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel (Compact Double Room) for 18,020 yen per night (including breakfast and tax). Hotel prices in Japan have been rising, so the rates are likely even higher now.

Final Thoughts: A Hot Spring Hotel with Airplane Views

Summary: Stayed at Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel – A Hot Spring Hotel with Airplane Views!

Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel is a resort hotel with natural hot springs located near Naha Airport. It offers stunning airport views, allowing you to watch planes take off and land up close.

Its proximity to Naha Airport and excellent accessibility make it a convenient choice for a stay on the day of arrival in Okinawa or the night before departure.

As a plane enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed the airport views from Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel. With its hot springs and the fun experiences at Umikaji Terrace, it was an exceptional resort stay!